The Brothers Melzer

KIT212 favorite Jurgen Melzer resurfaced in his native land -- upsetting rising countryman Dominic Thiem in the round of 16 -- but was sent packing in the quarterfinals by none other than his (less-attractive) younger brother, Gerald. The 26-year-old beat the 35-year-old 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to reach his second career semifinal at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel, Austria, on Thursday. He now plays the fourth-seeded Paolo Lorenzi of Italy for a place in Saturday's final. 

This was the elder Melzer's first ATP event after a 10-month layoff following shoulder surgery, Tennis reports that Jurgen Melzer dominated the opening set but lost control after an hour-long interruption of the match because of rain early in the second set. ''I am happy to be in the semifinals but I'd rather won against a different opponent today,'' said Gerald Melzer, who failed to win a match on ATP level this season coming into the tournament. 

Something tells me Jurgen will survive ...

Double Your Pleasure

I'll give you one -- OK, two guesses why I watched my first doubles match in years yesterday before work. Tommy Haas teamed up with Roger Federer at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, and although they lost, it was awfully fun watching them play together. (They looked like they were having fun!) And besides, the winners -- Jurgen Melzer and Philipp Petzschner, who won Wimbledon in 2010 and the U.S. Open in 2011-- were nearly as easy on the eyes as they were.

Tennis and Soccer Players Bring Hope to Japan

With the men's tour down in Miami this week, all the top players rallied together last night for charity soccer match to raise money for victims of the recent tsunami. The Hope Match for Japan pitted the ATP World Tour Allstars versus the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Ransom Everglades in Miami. Proceeds from the post-match fundraiser dinner went to the American Red Cross Japan disaster relief effort -- and the competition looked awfully fun (and fierce), too!

Kei Nishikori, Feliciano Lopez and Novak Djokovic line up for the Japanese National Anthem

Spanish inquisition: David Ferrer, Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco

Nole shows his moves

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga looks like he's done this before

Fernando Verdasco points countryman David Ferrer in the right direction

Feliciano Lopez looks like he knows what he's doing

Juergen Melzer's got legs, knows how to use 'em

Andy Murray, looking for something he's good at

Oh, Fernando!

Novak never shies away from a camera